Hey! Nostradamus by Douglas Coupland
A few moments’ indiscretion in Ottakars of Truro and I’m stuck with yet another Douglas Coupland novel I’ll probably never read.
I wrote an entry about this in my journal round about the time that Hey! Nostradamus was published. The problem is that I used to find his work absolutely inspirational.
Then Girlfriend in a Coma came out.
I couldn’t even read the thing. I found Miss Wyoming so soul-destroying that I couldn’t finish it, even though it may be true that I gave up just before the redemptive stuff was due to happen.
With these two on my conscience, I don’t even feel able to start All Families are Psychotic.
Now I’ve gone and bought Hey! Nostradamus in a moment when my mind was elsewhere, it was part of a three for two offer, and I wasn’t really concentrating. The whole problem just gets bigger and bigger.
But a problem shared is a problem reduced slightly. Apparently I am far from being the only person that feels like this. Perhaps its us compulsive-and-in-hope buyers that are keeping him in business as a novelist.
Perhaps if we all stopped, he’d be forced to write decent novels again.
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Here’s a summary of the position for quick and easy reference.
Inspirational Coupland:
- Generation X (1991)
- Shampoo Planet (1992)
- Life After God (1994)
- Microserfs (1994)
- Polaroids from the Dead (1996)
Douglas, why did you do this, Coupland:
- Girlfriend in a Coma (1997)
- Miss Wyoming (1999)
- All Families Are Psychotic (2001)
At least this one got good reviews Coupland:
- Hey! Nostradamus (2003)
Douglas will someone please give me permission not to buy this book and so help me break this dreadful cycle Coupland:
- Eleanor Rigby (2004)
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Actually, I have come to a decision. I’m going to make a concerted attempt to have another stab at these later works, starting with Girlfriend in a Coma.
I thought about starting at the beginning, but Mr Rand0m pointed out that this, as well as doubling the length of time the thing will take, is only going to throw the deficiencies of the later books into sharper focus.
If this last-ditch bid fails, then I shall Bookcross everything after Polaroids from the Dead and never buy another Coupland novel as long as I live. I shall deal with my compulsion by (possibly literally) leaving it on a park bench.
That’s just bound to provoke the author to a return to form, isn’t it?
Tags: Douglas Coupland, literary fiction